Digressions


8


Unit summary


In this unit you have discussed why lecturers sometimes mark digressions and looked at examples of the digressions they make. You have practised following the lecturer’s main points. You have also seen a number of expressions commonly used in lectures.


1 Complete this summary with some of the words and phrases from the box. reference


main point explain management success emphasize


comment anecdote


recognize background


Even when lecturers organize their lectures well, they will sometimes digress from the main point. This might be to


point they are making or in order to give a


further on the to a


book on the topic. They might want to give you some information about the course you are studying or say something about the


of


the lecture they are giving at that moment. Lecturers will often tell students a personal to illustrate a point they are making. When


lecturers make digressions, it can create problems for listeners. To start with, you will need to


that there is a digression. Then you


will need to decide whether the digression is important and whether you need to continue taking notes. Finally, you need to know when the lecturer has returned to the .


2 Write one word or phrase that a lecturer might use to indicate that he/she


is about to digress, and another he/she might use to indicate that he/she is returning to the main point.


3 You want to give some advice to a classmate about words and phrases that


lecturers commonly use in lectures. Write six examples of expressions in the spaces below.


For web resources relevant to this book, see: www.englishforacademicstudy.com


These weblinks will provide you with further practice in following lectures containing digressions, as well as summarizing some of the skills you have learnt.


Listening


69


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